The Tactical Debrief with Dr. Massimino
The Tactical Debrief podcast
(Formerly The Staff Assistant Podcast) is designed to assist and educate public safety personnel about mental health issues and managing work-related stress. Dr. Massimino is a licensed clinical psychologist who works within a large law enforcement agency and treats first responders in her private practice.
Each episode is designed to mimic an intake session - giving you an inside look into what meeting with a therapist would look like - through the eyes of other first responders. The goal of The Tactical Debrief podcast is to normalize therapy for law enforcement and first responders, and to reduce the suicide rate for this population.
The Tactical Debrief with Dr. Massimino
Episode 28: CDCR Lt. Kip Curtiss
In this episode we interview retired CDCR Lt. Kip Curtiss. Kip discusses the positive impact of watching his father interact and mentor sailors in the Navy, and how this shaped his own leadership style. Kip discusses losing his eldest brother in a house fire during childhood, and the impact on himself and his parents.
Kip didn’t join the department until the age of 42, working as a general contractor and volunteer firefighter previously. He initially worked at Valley State Prison (VSP) for women and transferred to the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility (SATF). He discusses the impact of being investigated, disciplined, and demoted - and how that experience helped him better balance his role at work. He ultimately promoted to sergeant and then lieutenant and became the peer support leader at SATF. He discusses the impact of numerous staff suicides that occurred over his career at SATF, as well as his faith.
Kip is currently retired, but still working as a general contractor and is also the Peer Support Director and a board member for The Resiliency Project.